Redemption

 This past weekend Pippa Middleton was married. The world was introduced to her at her sister Kate's  wedding to Prince William in 2011.

  Her wedding was a royal affair in every sense of the word. The Prince's were in attendance along with her niece and nephew and the King of Tennis Roger Federer.

 In my younger days I disliked everything that had to do with the royals. They were the ultimate in disfinctional families. The biggest hypocrisy of all was that the heir to the throne of England (Prince Charles) had to marry a virgin. Her sole responsibility was to bear a son to continue the male legacy of the family.

Charles and Diana's marriage in 1981 was the ultimate in hypocrisy. Diana the naive 20 year old nursery school teacher was smitten with Charles. He was more interested in his girlfriend Camlla and his behaviour was accepted by the royal family.

As Diana matured and became a mother she became the people's princess. At every opportunity she tried to have a normal life and raise her kids with as normal a life as possible. This was extremely hard. She was the most photographed women in the world and her every move was a breaking news story. She succeeded in doing and living life to the fullest in deference to the royal family.

It is 20 years since her death and she is still one of the most influential people of our time.

Her sons have developed into wonderful, caring, responsible young men. Princes William and Harry are the reasons why I have become a Royal watcher and follower. They are authentic, real. Their mother's influence is evident.

It hasn't been easy for them, growing up in the spotlight. Everything they do is under the microscope and yet they turned out very well. I admire and respect them.

Harry recently acknowledged his dark moments in the years since his mother's death. Looking back we now understand his rebellious phase and acts. He was discovering and understanding his life.

It is not easy to acknowledge that their is something wrong. We all have flaws. Until I was diagnosed with depression and started looking back on my life, i was angry, irritable a real shit full of negativity.

Embracing my depression and being open about it has changed my life. I am indebted to my fiancée for leading me out of the darkness and into the light.

I still have bad days and low moments. Thankfully these are shorter and fewer. Be brave and open, do not suffer in silence. It is important to reach out and get help.